- F. Murray Abraham
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F. Murray Abraham 
F. Murray Abraham, 2008Born Fahrid Murray Abraham
October 24, 1939
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.Other names Frank Murray Abraham Occupation Actor Years active 1971–present Spouse Kate Hannan (m. 1962–present) Fahrid Murray Abraham (born October 24, 1939)[1] is an American actor. He became known during the 1980s after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. He has appeared in many roles, both leading and supporting, in films such as All the President's Men and Scarface. He is also known for his television and theatre work.
Contents
Early life
Abraham was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Josephine (née Stello), a housewife, and Fahrid Abraham, an auto mechanic.[1][2] His father was an Assyrian/Syriac Christian[3] who immigrated from Syria during the 1920s famine; his paternal grandfather was a chanter in the Syriac Orthodox Church.[1] His mother, one of 14 children, was Italian American, and the daughter of an immigrant who worked in the coal mines of Western Pennsylvania.[1] Abraham was raised in El Paso, Texas, near the Mexican border. He attended Vilas Grammar School, and graduated from El Paso High School in 1958.[4] He was a gang member during his teenage years.[1] He attended Texas Western College (later named University of Texas at El Paso), where he was given the best actor award by Alpha Psi Omega for his portrayal of the Indian Nocona in Comanche Eagle during the 1959-60 season. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, then studied acting under Uta Hagen in New York City. He began his acting career on the stage, debuting in a Los Angeles production of Ray Bradbury's The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.
Career
Abraham made his screen debut as an usher in the George C. Scott comedy They Might Be Giants (1971). Abraham can be seen as one of the undercover police officers along with Al Pacino in Sidney Lumet's Serpico (1973), also as the bad guy in one 4th Season episode of Kojak, he played a cab driver in the theatrical version of The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975), a mechanic in the theatrical version of The Sunshine Boys (1975) and in All the President's Men (1976), as one of the police officers who arrests the Watergate burglars in the offices of the Democratic National Headquarters.
Until his acclaimed role in Amadeus (1984), Abraham was perhaps best known to audiences as a talking bunch of grapes in a series of television commercials for Fruit of the Loom underwear.[5] He worked with Pacino again in the gangster film Scarface in 1983, playing drug dealer Omar Suárez.
Abraham won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1984).
Immediately after Amadeus, he appeared in The Name of the Rose (1986), in which he played Bernardo Gui, nemesis to Sean Connery's William of Baskerville. His director on the film, Jean-Jacques Annaud, has described Abraham as an "egomaniac" on the set, who considered himself more important than Sean Connery, since Connery did not have an Oscar.[6]
Since Amadeus, he has mainly focused on classical theatre, and has starred in many Shakespearean productions such as Othello and Richard III, as well as many other plays by the likes of Samuel Beckett and Gilbert and Sullivan. Also highlights the role Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya (for which he received an Obie Award).
He is also known for his roles in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Ahdar Ru'afo in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Gus Van Sant's Finding Forrester (2000), where he once again played nemesis to Connery.
Abraham has focused on stage work throughout his career, giving notable performances as Pozzo in Mike Nichols's production of Waiting for Godot, Malvolio in Twelfth Night for the New York Shakespeare Festival, and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, for the Off Broadway Theatre For A New Audience (TFANA) in March 2007, which was performed at the Duke Theatre in New York and also at The Swan Theatre, part of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He reprised this role in February 2011, when he replaced Al Pacino in the Public Theater's production. In the 1997/98 Broadway season he starred in the new chamber musical Triumph of Love opposite Betty Buckley, based on Mariveaux's classic comedy. The production did not find a large audience, running 85 performances (after its pre-opening preview period).[7]
Abraham most recently made a guest appearance on the popular television series Saving Grace, on which he played an angel, Matthew and the Law & Order: Criminal Intent, on which he played Dr. Theodore Nichols, father of Det. Zach Nichols. Additionally, Abraham has worked as the primary narrator for the PBS series Nature for many years.
Oscar jinx
Abraham's relatively low-profile film career subsequent to his Academy Award has been widely considered an example of the "Oscar jinx". According to film critic Leonard Maltin, professional failure following an early success is referred to in Hollywood circles as the "F. Murray Abraham syndrome".[8] Abraham rejects this notion and once told an interviewer:
The Oscar is the single most important event of my career. I have dined with kings, shared equal billing with my idols, lectured at Harvard and Columbia. If this is a jinx, I'll take two.
In the same interview, Abraham said:
Even though I won the Oscar, I can still take the subway in New York, and nobody recognizes me. Some actors might find that disconcerting, but I find it refreshing.
Personal life
Abraham has been married to Kate Hannan since 1962; they have two children.[9] He taught Theater at Brooklyn College.
Work
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 1971 They Might Be Giants Clyde the Usher 1973 Serpico Serpico's partner Uncredited 1975 The Prisoner of Second Avenue Taxi Driver 1975 The Sunshine Boys Car Mechanic 1976 All the President's Men Paul Leeper The Ritz Chris 1978 The Big Fix Eppis Madman 1983 Scarface Omar Suárez 1984 Amadeus Antonio Salieri Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor1986 The Name of the Rose Bernardo Gui 1988 Russicum - I giorni del diavolo aka The Third Solution 1989 The Favorite Abdul Hamid aka Intimate Power An Innocent Man Virgil Cane Slipstream Cornelius (at Museum) Beyond the Stars Dr. Harry Bertram, the Whale Man Eye of the Widow Kharoun 1990 The Bonfire of the Vanities D.A. Abe Weiss uncredited La Batalla de los Tres Reyes Osrain aka Drums of Fire, English title Cadence Capt. Ramon Garcia Uncredited 1991 Mobsters Arnold Rothstein Money Will Scarlet By the Sword Max Suba 1993 Last Action Hero As Himself (playing "Det. John Practice") Journey To The Center Of The Earth Professor Harlech aka Journey To The Inner World- Sweet Killing Zargo Through an Open Window Narrator (Short) National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon Dr. Harold Leacher 1994 Nostradamus Scalinger Surviving the Game Wolfe Sr. L’Affaire Lucien Haslans aka The Case Jamila Older Seit Fresh Chess Hustler uncredited 1995 Mighty Aphrodite Leader Dillinger and Capone Al Capone Baby Face Nelson Al Capone 1996 Children of the Revolution Joseph Stalin 1996 Dead Man's Walk Captain Caleb Cobb 1997 Mimic Dr. Gates Eruption President Mendoza 1998 Star Trek: Insurrection Ad’har Ru’afo 1999 Excellent Cadavers Tommaso Buscetta The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in 'For Love or Mummy' Prof. Covington Muppets From Space Noah 2000 Finding Forrester Prof. Robert Crawford 2001 Thir13en Ghosts Cyrus Kristicos I Cavalieri che fecero l'impresa Delfinello da Coverzano aka The Knights of the Quest USA title 2002 Joshua Father Tardone Ticker Airport Guru aka The Hire: Ticker 2003 My Father, Rua Alguem 5555 Paul Minsky aka Josef Mengele – My Father Piazza delle cinque lune Entita aka Five Moons Plaza - English title Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites Narrator 2004 The Bridge of San Luis Rey Viceroy of Peru Peperoni ripieni e pesci in faccia Jeffrey aka Too Much Romance... It's Time for Stuffed Peppers – USA title Another Way of Seeing Things Narrator 2006 L’Inchiesta Nathan aka The Inquiry – English title Quiet Flows the Don Pantaley Il Mercante di pietre Shahid aka The Stone Merchant – English title A House Divided Grandfather Wahid 2007 Carnera: The Walking Mountain Leon See Come le formiche Ruggero aka Wine and Kisses – English title Blood Monkey Professor Hamilton 2008 Shark Swarm (TV) Bill Girdler 2009 Perestroika Professor Gross Barbarossa Siniscalco Barozzi 2010 I Looked in Obituaries Braque post-production Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dr. Theodore Nichols Episode: "Three-In-One" 2011 Goltzius and the Pelican Company The Margrave of Alsace Louie John Theatre credits
- Angels in America
- The Ritz
- Triumph of Love
- Teibele and Her Demon
- Othello
- Landscape of the Body
- Richard II
- King Lear
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The Fantasticks
- Waiting for Godot
- Mauritius
- Uncle Vanya
- Oedipus Rex
- Twelfth Night
- The Jew of Malta
- The Merchant of Venice
- A Life in the Theatre
- Almost an Evening
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Legend
Awards and honours
Theatre
- 1980: Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Play, for Teibele and Her Demon - Nominated
- 1984: Obie Award for Best Performance, for Uncle Vanya - Won
- 1992: Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Play, for A Life in the Theatre - Nominated
- 2011: Obie Award for "sustained excellence of performance", for The Merchant of Venice - Won[10]
Film
- 1984: Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, for Amadeus - Won
- 1985: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor (Tied with Albert Finney for Under the Volcano (1984)), for Amadeus - Won
- 1985: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for Amadeus - Won
- 1985: Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, for Amadeus - Won
- 1985: Albert Schweitzer Award for Classic Film Acting, for Amadeus - Won
- 1986: BAFTA Award for Best Actor, for Amadeus - Nominated
Awards for lifetime achievement
In July 2004, during a ceremony in Rome, he was awarded the "Premio per gli Italiani nel Mondo". This is a prize distributed by the Marzio Tremaglia foundation and the Italian government to Italian emigrants and their descendants who have distinguished themselves abroad.
In 2009 he was recognized by The Alumni Association of The College of New York City with John H. Finley Award in recognition of exemplary dedicated service to the City of New York.
In 2010 Abraham was the recipient of The Sir John Gielgud Award (Theatre) for that year.[11]
It is also Honorary doctor from the Rider College in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States.
In popular culture
In The Simpsons episode "Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"", Homer rushes home to see Abraham on Inside the Actors Studio and does not stop for a bathroom break, consequently costing his father his kidneys.
In the season six episode of Monk "Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan." Abraham is an object of obsession of the character Marci Maven.
In January 2010, Abraham was the on-the-scene hero of a real-life crime scene at the Classic Stage Company in New York, when he traded blows with a thief in the dressing room area during a public rehearsal.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d e Salomon, Andrew (2007-02-15). "The Lion in Winter". Backstage.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20070304121511/http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/features/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003546469. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ How I Got My Equity Card
- ^ F. Murray Abraham, Oscar Winner, Seeks Tolerance Through Arts
- ^ http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/morgue/2008/07/hometown-star-3.html
- ^ F. Murray Abraham Biography - Yahoo! Movies
- ^ Jean-Jacques Annaud, The Name of the Rose, DVD commentary, Warner Home Video, 2004.
- ^ http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4756
- ^ Is winning an Oscar a curse or a blessing?
- ^ http://www.amadeusimmortal.com/movie/abraham.php
- ^ F. Murray Abraham Receives Obie for Tresnjak Production of "Merchant"
- ^ F. Murray Abraham Gielgud Award 2010
- ^ Healy, Patrick (January 26, 2010). "F. Murray Abraham: Action Hero". The New York Times. http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/f-murray-abraham-action-hero/. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
External links
- F. Murray Abraham at the Internet Movie Database
- F. Murray Abraham at the Internet Broadway Database
- F. Murray Abraham at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- F. Murray Abraham at AllRovi
- F. Murray Abraham at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
- Yahoo! Movies Biography
- F. Murray Abraham at IMG Artists
Awards for F. Murray Abraham Academy Award for Best Actor (1981–2000) Henry Fonda (1981) · Ben Kingsley (1982) · Robert Duvall (1983) · F. Murray Abraham (1984) · William Hurt (1985) · Paul Newman (1986) · Michael Douglas (1987) · Dustin Hoffman (1988) · Daniel Day-Lewis (1989) · Jeremy Irons (1990) · Anthony Hopkins (1991) · Al Pacino (1992) · Tom Hanks (1993) · Tom Hanks (1994) · Nicolas Cage (1995) · Geoffrey Rush (1996) · Jack Nicholson (1997) · Roberto Benigni (1998) · Kevin Spacey (1999) · Russell Crowe (2000)
Complete list · (1928–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–2020) Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (1981–2000) Henry Fonda (1981) · Ben Kingsley (1982) · Robert Duvall (1983) · F. Murray Abraham (1984) · Jon Voight (1985) · Bob Hoskins (1986) · Michael Douglas (1987) · Dustin Hoffman (1988) · Tom Cruise (1989) · Jeremy Irons (1990) · Nick Nolte (1991) · Al Pacino (1992) · Tom Hanks (1993) · Tom Hanks (1994) · Nicolas Cage (1995) · Geoffrey Rush (1996) · Peter Fonda (1997) · Jim Carrey (1998) · Denzel Washington (1999) · Tom Hanks (2000)
Complete List · (1943–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–2020) Categories:- 1939 births
- University of Texas at El Paso alumni
- University of Texas at Austin alumni
- Actors from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- American film actors
- American people of Assyrian descent
- American people of Italian descent
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- Best Actor Academy Award winners
- Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners
- Brooklyn College faculty
- Living people
- Obie Award recipients
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